U.S. patent number 6,411,337 [Application Number 09/837,907] was granted by the patent office on 2002-06-25 for function presentation and selection using a rotatable function menu.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Matsushita Electric Corporation of America. Invention is credited to Jeffrey M. Cove, William S. Gray, Ernesto S. Villalobos.
United States Patent |
6,411,337 |
Cove , et al. |
June 25, 2002 |
Function presentation and selection using a rotatable function
menu
Abstract
Function representation and selection in a multi-function system
that supports user selection of system function by means of a
menu-driven graphical user interface includes displaying a
rotatable function menu. The rotatable function menu includes a
plurality of circumferentially-arrayed facets, each facet
representing a respective function of a plurality of functions. The
rotatable function menu may be rotated on an axis to place any
desired facet at a selection location at which the function
represented by the facet may be selected. Selection and
configuration of functions and features related to a selected
function are provided by display and navigation through one or more
submenus.
Inventors: |
Cove; Jeffrey M. (Plainfield,
NJ), Gray; William S. (Chula Vista, CA), Villalobos;
Ernesto S. (Chula Vista, CA) |
Assignee: |
Matsushita Electric Corporation of
America (Secaucus, NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
25497634 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/837,907 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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955983 |
Oct 22, 1997 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/563; 348/569;
725/37; 725/25; 348/570; 348/E5.105; 348/E5.102 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
21/482 (20130101); H04N 5/44513 (20130101); H04N
21/485 (20130101); H04N 21/4312 (20130101); H04N
21/47 (20130101); H04N 5/44543 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
5/445 (20060101); H04N 005/445 (); H04N
005/50 () |
Field of
Search: |
;348/563,564,569,570,906,734,725 ;345/112,146,116,327,328
;725/25,37 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hsia; Sherrie
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gray Cary Ware &
Freidenrich
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
08/955,983, filed Oct. 22, 1997, and entitled "FUNCTION
PRESENTATION AND SELECTION USING A ROTATABLE MENU."
Claims
We claim:
1. A method for presenting a plurality of television (TV) functions
on a TV screen, comprising:
displaying on the TV screen a rotatable spherical function
menu;
displaying in the spherical function menu, one or more function
representations, each function representation identifying a
function;
displaying an exit icon near the spherical function menu, the exit
icon representing an exit function providing an exit from the
method;
receiving a rotation signal; and in response to the rotation
signal, causing the spherical function menu to rotate.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the spherical function
menu includes displaying a substantially spherical graphics object
with a plurality of facets, and displaying one or more function
representations includes displaying in each facet of the plurality
of facets a function representation of the one or more function
representations.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the exit icon includes
displaying the exit icon as a stationary panel that touches the
spherical function menu.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the spherical function
menu includes orienting the spherical function menu for rotation
about a vertical axis.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein causing the spherical function
menu to rotate includes causing rotation of the spherical function
menu on the vertical axis.
6. The method of claim 1, further including displaying a submenu
that includes a plurality of function representations, each
function representation corresponding to a function identified by a
function representation on the spherical function menu.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein, prior to displaying the submenu,
the spherical function menu is rotated to a position at which the
identified function is displayed and the submenu is displayed in
response to display of identified function.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the spherical function menu
includes a surface with a plurality of facets, a respective one
function representation of the one or more function representations
being displayed in a respective facet of the plurality of
facets.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the spherical function
menu to rotate includes providing a plurality of rotation axes and
rotating the spherical function menu about one rotation axis of the
plurality of rotation axes.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the ring-shaped
function menu isometrically includes displaying the spherical
function menu standing substantially upright.
Description
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the
Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise
reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to processing system function selection by
means of a menu displayed by the processing system. More
particularly, the invention concerns the presentation and selection
of television set functions by means of a rotatable function menu
that is displayed on the screen of the television set and rotated
thereon to present functions for user selection.
Modernly, the television set (TV) combines a display system with a
sophisticated on-board processor that supports manifold
functionality made accessible to a user by provision of on-screen,
remote-control programming. Typically, a graphical user interface
driven by user commands entered by way of a remote control device
provides a display that either temporarily replaces or is
integrated with TV program video. The display presents either
alphanumeric or icon representations of TV functions ("function
representations"). Thus the graphical user interface permits the
user to interactively view and select TV functions.
Frequently, the graphical user interface for a TV is menu-driven,
providing the display and supporting the selection of TV functions
by means of menus. Such menus usually are laid out in flat,
two-dimensional panels that provide "depth" by means of a
hierarchical or tree-based sequence of menu panels. Pull-down menus
are often used. This mode of presentation and selection is limited,
requiring the user to view and select functions by navigation
through successions of two-dimensional matrices. Other modes of
presentation and selection are even more primitive.
Manifestly, there is a need for greater flexibility in presenting
and supporting the selection of functions in a TV or, more broadly,
in any multi-functional processor system in which function display
and selection are provided by means of a menu-driven graphical user
interface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention satisfies the need by providing virtual "depth" in
the presentation and manipulation of a function menu. The function
menu in the invention includes a (virtually) three-dimensional
graphics object that rotates in virtual space in response to user
commands. A surface of the object is divided into a sequence of
areas. Each area of the three dimensional, rotatable graphics
object is assigned a function, with the assigned function being
represented by graphical means in the area. The graphical
representation may be alphanumeric, iconic, or both. The result is
a rotatable function menu.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotatable
function menu is substantially ring- or wheel-shaped, although
other rotatable shapes are contemplated. A plurality of facets are
arrayed circumferentially along an outer surface of the menu. The
menu is rotated in response to user commands until the facet
containing a desired function arrives at a selection location. The
function of the facet in the selection location is referred to as
the selected function. Further user commands may cause the display
of one or more submenus for the selected function, each submenu
containing a plurality of functions that are related to the
selected function.
Manifestly, the invention organizes and presents functions in a
novel way by provision of a function menu that is (virtually)
rotatable in three dimensional space. The rotatable function menu
adds flexibility, variety and richness to the visual presentation
and selection of functions in the menu-driven graphical user
interface of a multi-function system.
An object of the invention is to provide a function menu that is
virtually rotatable in three-dimensional space. A further object is
to provide for display and selection of functions in a
multi-function system by means of a function menu that is virtually
rotatable in three-dimensional space.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a function
menu in the form of a ring- or wheel-shaped graphics object that
can be virtually rotated in three-dimensional space.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become evident
when the following description is read with reference to the
below-described drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The file of this patent contains at least one drawing executed in
color.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-function processing system
embodied as a TV set.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of a rotatable function menu in the form
of a ring- or wheel-shaped graphics object that can be virtually
rotated in three-dimensional space.
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram representing a software program that
executes the method of the invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates a sub-menu associated with a selected function
represented in a facet of the function menu shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 illustrates the rotation of the rotatable function menu
through a select location.
FIG. 6 illustrates a variation of the preferred embodiment of the
rotatable function menu.
FIGS. 7A-7E illustrate respective graphics objects by which the
rotatable function menu may be implemented.
FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate other embodiments of the rotatable
function menu.
FIGS. 9A-9K illustrate how rotation of the rotatable function menu
may be animated.
FIGS. 10A-10E illustrate a software program embodying functions
that are executed to rotate the rotatable function menu.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1, a processing system 10 is illustrated.
Preferably, the processing system 10 is embodied in a television
set (TV) (or a digital television set, or equivalent). Broadly, the
invention is intended to be applied to any processing system
utilizing a menu-driven graphical user interface for presentation
and selection of functions performed by the processing system. The
TV set may include a TV receiver, a set top box, a video cassette
recorder (VCR), and/or any combination thereof.
In the preferred embodiment, the TV includes a video processor 12
that drives a display 14 by means of standard RGB (red/green/blue)
signals. The video processor 12 receives a composite video signal
from a video detector/tuner 16 to which an antenna 18 is coupled
for the reception of broadcast TV signals. Manifestly, the video
detector/tuner 16 may also be connected to other means of TV signal
distribution, including, but not limited to, a CATV cable, a
satellite receiver, and so on. The video processor 12 has a
standard architecture including a demodulator 22 that receives the
video signal and decomposes it into a set of signals necessary to
operate the TV. The demodulator 22 is connected to a
synchronization extractor (synch stripper 24). Included in the
signals generated by the synch stripper 24 are a horizontal
synchronization (HSYNCH) signal and a vertical synchronization
(VSYNCH) signal. The demodulator 22 also extracts the RGB signals
necessary to drive the display 14, providing them to an RGB switch
26. The TV also includes processor system 30 provided for the
execution of the plurality of TV functions, including, but not
limited to, channel switching, volume control, VCR operation,
day/time setting, and so on. The processor system may be embodied
in a programmable, general purpose digital processor, or an
application-specific integrated circuit. The processor system maybe
embodied in a TV receiver, a set top box, or a VCR, for example. In
the preferred embodiment, the processor system 30 has a
conventional architecture that includes a microprocessor IC 40,
random access memory (RAM) 42, and read only memory (ROM) 46 in
which the computer programs for function execution, graphical user
interface execution, and execution of a method embodying the
invention are stored. The processor system 30 also includes an RGB
controller 48. The processor system elements 40, 42, 46, and 48
(and others not shown, but inherent) are coupled by a databus 50.
The RGB controller 48 is connected to the RGB switch 26 in the
video processor 12 to provide graphics RGB signals that form the
display produced by the graphical user interface. The RGB switch 26
integrates the graphics signals provided by the RGB controller 48
with the TV video provided by the demodulator 22 for display on the
screen 14. Synchronization of graphics produced by the processor
system 30 with the TV video is provided by the HSYNCH and VSYNCH
signals provided to the RGB controller 48, and by a FAST BLANKING
signal provided by the RGB controller 48 to the RGB switch 26. The
microprocessor IC 40 is connected to a receiver 32 that receives
user inputs transmitted from a remote control device 34. The remote
control device 34 is conventional, including a number of buttons
providing standard commands for navigation and selection that
control the microprocessor IC 40 in the execution of programs
stored in ROM 46. Navigation and selection commands may also be
received by the microprocessor IC 40 from a conventional QWERTY
keyboard 36 and/or a mouse 38.
The ROM 46 in FIG. 1 includes a graphical user interface (GUI)
computer program 47 that supports interaction between a user and
the processing system 10 by way of one or more input devices such
as remote control 34, keyboard 36, and/or mouse 38 (or joystick,
not shown). The GUI program generates the displays that present to
the user representations of functions ("function representations")
and that provide visual feedback to the user which indicates the
user's navigation through and selection of functions that are
represented in the displays. Any GUI in which the invention is
implemented is presumed to comprise components of virtual reality
programming including three-dimensional representation of graphics
objects to simulate three-dimensional space, animation to simulate
motion of graphics objects in space, and programming to enable the
user to control the animation by conventional navigation and
selection commands. Thus, when terms such as "three dimensions",
"three dimensional", "isometric", "rotatable", and "rotation", are
used it is understood that virtual representation on a
two-dimensional display surface is intended, as well as
presentation on any actual three-dimensional display means.
Turning now to FIG. 2, an embodiment of the invention is described
with reference to a function menu 50. The function menu 50 is ring-
or wheel-shaped, having an outside circumferential surface 52. In
the preferred embodiment, the function menu 50 is an annulus that
is observed isometrically so that an inside circumferential surface
54 is also presented. Alternatively, this embodiment of the
function menu 50 may be presented as a solid ring or disk. The
outside circumferential surface is composed of a sequence of
facets, one of which is indicated at 59. In the example shown, each
facet of the function menu includes a perimeter that encloses an
essentially square-shaped area, as best seen with reference to the
middle facet at location 59a. Immediately adjacent to, and
preferably touching, the facet at location 59a is a facet 62 that
is separate from the function menu 50. In response to user
commands, the function menu 50 is rotated on an axis that is
represented by the line 66. Preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 2,
the axis represented by the line 66 is substantially horizontal.
The directions of rotation are indicated by the arrows 67 and 68.
Rotation of the function menu 50 is incremental, with the menu
rotating through an arc sufficient to carry one of the facets above
or below the facet at location 59a to the location 59a, with the
facet at that location being rotated by one facet's angular
distance below or above the location 59a illustrated in FIG. 2.
Thus, assume rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow 67
and an increment of rotation which would carry the facet with the
title TIMER and including an icon representing a clock down to the
position occupied by the facet with the title LOCK and including an
icon representing a lock, while the facet with the title CHANNELS
would travel to the position previously occupied by the TIMER
facet. Preferably, during rotation, the facet 62, labeled EXIT, is
stationary. Manifestly, the facet of the function menu 50 that is
immediately adjacent to, or touching, the EXIT facet is in the
"select" location 59a. During rotation of the rotatable function
menu 50, a HELP panel 70, containing two fields 72 and 74 is
displayed. The upper field 72 indicates two buttons on the remote
control 34 operated by the user (or corresponding arrow buttons on
a keyboard, or movement by a mouse) which, when activated, will
rotate the rotatable function menu 50 in the direction indicated on
the respective arrow button. The lower field 74 indicates to the
user that the ACTION button on the remote control 34 (or a
corresponding key on a keyboard, or button on a mouse) will result
in selection of the function represented by the facet at the select
location 59a. In this case the function is referred to as the
"select function".
As will be appreciated with reference to FIG. 2, each facet of the
rotatable function menu 50 represents a function that the processor
system 30 is capable of performing. For example, those functions
represented by the facets illustrated in FIG. 2 include channel
changing or setting in the CHANNELS facet, timer setting in the
TIMER facet, and a lock function in the LOCK facet. Conventionally,
the function represented by a facet is linked to the function
representation that is contained within the facet so that a user
selection action (such as pressing the ACTION button) will select
the function for execution by the processor system 30.
Referring now to FIG. 3, function representation and selection
using a rotatable function menu such as that illustrated in FIG. 2
will be explained. FIG. 3 represents a computer program executable
by, for example, the processor system 30, or any other general
purpose digital processing system programmed and equipped to
execute a graphical user interface. Again in the explanation of
FIG. 3 it is assumed that a user is operating an input device, such
as the remote control 34, having buttons that represent navigation,
exit, and selection commands. At minimum the navigation commands
are activated, respectively, by UP and DOWN keys. An EXIT command
is input by the LEFT key, while the RIGHT key enters a SELECT
command. In addition, the provision of an ACTION key or equivalent
is presumed. The method of the invention begins in step 80 from
which transition is made to step 84 by pressing the ACTION key in
step 82. In step 84 the rotatable function menu, such as the menu
50 of FIG. 2 is displayed. For so long as the rotatable function
menu is displayed, activation of the UP key in step 86 will rotate
the menu 50, in step 86a, in the direction indicated by the arrow
68. This corresponds to entry of a first ROTATION command. Rotation
is, preferably, incremented by one facet, with the facet at
location 59a representing the selected function. The depression of
the DOWN key (entry of a second ROTATION command) in step 88 will
rotate the menu, in step 88a, in the direction indicated by the
arrow 67 of FIG. 2 by one facet, with return to step 84. The
program exits from step 84 by depression of the LEFT key 89, which
carries the method through step 91 back to the start state
represented by the step 80. From step 84, selection of the function
in the select location is indicated by depression of the RIGHT key
in step 90 (or the ACTION key) which carries the method to step 92,
where a submenu is prepared for display of a plurality of functions
and/or features that are related to the selected function
represented by the facet of the rotatable function menu in the
select position. The rotatable function menu 50 is deleted from the
display and the submenu is displayed in step 94. Alternatively, the
submenu may be displayed when its related function representation
is rotated to the select location. As should be evident, step 89
may be considered to be entry of a SELECT command by the user.
Reference to FIG. 4 illustrates steps 92 and 94. In FIG. 4, assume
that the rotatable function menu 50 in FIG. 2 has been rotated to
place a facet labeled AUDIO and containing an icon of a speaker to
the select position. This means that the AUDIO function is the
selected function. In step 92, a submenu is prepared that lists
functions classed as AUDIO functions. This submenu is indicated by
reference numeral 95 in FIG. 4. If desired, the facet of the
rotatable function menu that is in the select position may be
displayed together with the submenu that results from selection of
the represented function. In this case, the facet 97 containing the
AUDIO label is shown overlapping the submenu 95. Returning to the
explanation of the method and referring once again to FIG. 3, from
step 94, navigation through the displayed submenu is provided by
depression of either the UP or DOWN key. For example, presuming
display of the submenu 95 in FIG. 4, four functions related to the
selected function are listed in a two dimensional function submenu
format, with a selected function indicated by highlighting. In this
case, as shown in FIG. 4 the AUDIO ADJUST function is highlighted.
Depression of the DOWN key in step 98 will move the highlighting
downwardly through the submenu 95, one listed function per
depression, so that the highlighting will be moved to the next
function beneath AUDIO ADJUST in the submenu, and so on. From step
98a, the method returns to step 94. Similarly, use of the UP key in
step 96 will move the highlighting upwardly in the submenu being
displayed, with transition back to display of the submenu by way of
steps 96a, 94. Note that the submenu 95 provides a RIGHT key icon
99 at the right-hand end of each listed function. This indicates
that the RIGHT key may be used with the submenu. Use of the RIGHT
key in step 100 allows navigation within a selected feature (step
112) by causing two events. First, another submenu, such as the
submenu 101 in FIG. 4, may be prepared for the function that is
highlighted in the submenu 95. Next, the other submenu, termed the
sub-submenu, is displayed, with highlighting, in step 114.
Navigation in the sub-submenu from step 114 is provided by way of
the UP key, which shifts the highlight up in the sub-submenu list
and then returns to display of the sub-submenu in steps 114, 116,
116a, 114. Similarly use of the DOWN key moves the highlighting
downwardly in the sub-submenu by the sequence 114, 118, 118a, 114.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, activation of
the RIGHT key in step 120 may toggle in step 120a between options
for a highlighted function in the sub-submenu 101, assuming the
presence of a RIGHT key icon in the display. Depression of the
ACTION key in step 122 cancels the highlighting in sub-submenu 101
and transfers it through step 124 back to the last selected
function in the submenu 95. From the submenu 95, return to the
display of the rotatable function menu 50 is by way of depression
of the LEFT key (or ACTION key) in step 102, preparation of the
rotatable function menu for display in step 102a, and display of
the rotatable function menu in step 84.
FIG. 5 illustrates a complete rotation the rotatable function menu
50, thereby disclosing all members of a set of functions that are
displayed for selection by rotatable function menu. Beginning with
rotation of the rotatable function menu 50 to place the AUDIO facet
in the selection location 59a, and assuming rotation of the
rotatable function menu 50 in the direction arrow of 200, on the
axis represented by the line 66, depression of the DOWN arrow on
the remote control 34 six times produces six rotational increments
of the rotatable function menu 50, presenting the following
sequence of functions for selection by the user: AUDIO, LOCK,
CHANNELS, PICTURE, GUIDE, SET UP, TIMER. This is not intended to
limit the number or set of functions, or to establish a particular
sequence, but rather only to present an illustrative example.
FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the rotatable function
menu, by a rotatable function menu 250 having eleven facets that
permit the presentation of eleven functions for selection. The axis
of rotation of the rotatable function menu 250 is pivoted to
increase the angle of the isometric view. In addition,
representative dimensions in pixels are given for the apparent
diameter of the rotatable function menu 250, for the width of its
projection onto the screen where it is displayed, and for the
length and width of the EXIT facet.
FIGS. 7A-7E illustrate various configurations that incorporate a
plurality of rotatable function menus. In FIGS. 7A-7D, the
rotatable function menus all have the ring or wheel shape of the
rotatable function menu illustrated in FIG. 2 and are therefore
indicated by reference numeral 50. In each of these configurations
a stationary EXIT facet 62 is provided at a location that touches
at least one of the rotatable function menus 50. In FIG. 7A, four
rotatable function menus 50 are presented, forming a cross by
disposing the EXIT facet 62 at a central location and placing each
of the rotatable function menus 50 into an abutting relationship
with the EXIT facet 62 so that their axes of rotation meet in the
center of the cross. In this configuration, the entire cross
structure can be rotated either clockwise or counter-clockwise in
order to place one rotatable function menu 50 in an active location
bracketed between the two arrow icons 260. The rotatable function
menu 50 in the active location is the one that is rotated on its
axis for function selection. In FIG. 7B, the cross configuration is
varied by aligning the rotatable function menus 50 so that their
radial projections intersect in the middle of the cross
configuration. This array may also be rotated clockwise or
counter-clockwise so that one rotatable function menu 50 may be
first rotated to the active location bracketed between the arrow
icons 260 and, in that location, rotated on its axis as described
above. In FIG. 7B, the EXIT facet remains stationary in the
position shown during rotation of the cross configuration. FIG. 7C
illustrates another cross configuration in which the rotatable
function menus 50 are displayed substantially vertically upright
while being rotated to the active location between the arrow icons
260 and while being rotated for function selection at the active
location. FIG. 7D illustrates parallel rotatable function menus 50
that can be activated either by changing the locations of the arrow
icons 260 and the EXIT facet 62 or by exchanging the locations of
the rotatable function menus 50. In FIG. 7E, a rotatable function
menu 350 in the form of a multi-faceted sphere is illustrated. This
embodiment of my rotatable function menu permits rotation of the
multi-faceted sphere on any of the plurality of axes, such as axes
352-354, that bisect the sphere, such that the facets may be
rotated to the select location 359a by rotation of the sphere about
one or more of the plurality of axes so the facets of the rotatable
function menu 350 come into the select location 359a vertically,
horizontally, or obliquely. Alternatively, the multi-faceted sphere
could be first rotated to position one of a plurality of
circumferential bands of facets to an active location, say to the
position where the circumferential band is substantially
equatorial, and then rotated on its vertical axis for function
selection.
As should be apparent from the reading of the forgoing Detailed
Description and from contemplation of the above-described figures,
the rotatable function menu is not intended to be limited to any
particular rotation configuration or orientation. Thus, for
example, the ring- or wheel-shaped configuration of FIG. 2 can be
rotated about an axis that is substantially horizontal,
substantially vertical, or rotated to any location between the
horizontal and vertical. The configuration can be a disc. Further,
this configuration can be presented isometrically or as a front or
side elevation. Alternatively, one or more ring- or wheel-shaped
rotatable function menus may be displayed for function presentation
and selection. Moreover, the rotatable function menu may be
rendered in other rotatable shapes such as, for example, the
multi-faceted sphere of FIG. 7E.
As FIGS. 8A and 8B indicate, the rotatable function menu may be
embodied in a cylindrical or spherical shape without the square
facets illustrated and described above. In each case, the outer
surface of the menu is divided into one or more sequences of
discrete areas or area portions that are arrayed circumferentially
along the surface. Further, in the cylindrical rotatable function
menu illustrated in FIG. 8A, the shape may be a hollow, annular
ring, or may be a solid disc.
FIGS. 9A-9K, taken together with FIGS. 10A-10E, illustrate how
animation of the rotatable function menu may be performed by means
embodied in computer software. Assuming a function set and sequence
as illustrated in FIG. 9A, animation of the upward rotation of the
rotatable function menu 50 may be understood with reference to
FIGS. 9B-9F. Assume that an upward rotation animation sequence
begins in FIG. 9B where the rotatable function menu 50 is shown,
prior to commencement of rotation, with the SET UP facet at the
select location 59a. Upon receipt of a rotation signal, such as
depression of an UP arrow key on the remote control 34, the
animation sequence begins in FIG. 9C by blanking out the function
representation in all of the facets and displaying the rotatable
function menu 50 rotated upwardly through an arc that appears to
place the clear (or white) facet formerly at location 59a in
position in 59b. Next, in FIG. 9D the facet that is being rotated
upwardly from the select location 59a is darkened and the facet
that is next to be rotated up into the location 59a is whitened,
while the rotatable function menu is rotated through an arc that
places the facet being rotated to the select location in location
59c. Then in FIGS. 9E and 9F, the function representation next in
sequence following the SET Up facet when the rotatable function
menu 50 is rotated upwardly is displayed in the white facet at
location 59a.
It should be clear that blanking of one or more facets merely
reflects hardware and software limitations. It is contemplated that
microcomputer speed and the instruction repertoire would be capable
of rotating the function menu to include the contents of the
facets, without blanking.
Manifestly, with reference to the animation sequence illustrated in
FIGS. 9B-9F, it will be appreciated that upward rotation through
the sequence of functions illustrated in FIG. 9A proceeds to the
right. For example, the SET UP function representation was followed
by the PICTURE function representation in the upward rotation
sequence just described. Conversely, a leftward traversal of the
sequence illustrated in FIG. 9A corresponds to a downward rotation
animation sequence. In either case, circular progression is
provided by wrap-around between the SET UP and AUDIO functional
representations.
FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate a sequence of program steps embodying
rotation of the rotatable function menu 50 that may be embodied,
for example, in the GUI program 47 stored in the ROM 46 of the on
board processor 30 illustrated in FIG. 1. Assume initially that
display of the rotatable function menu 50 is signified by the state
of an on screen mode flag (osmode). If the flag is set to OS_OFF,
the on screen mode is off, meaning that the rotatable function menu
50 is not being displayed. Assume activation of an ACTION button on
the remote control 34 by a user in step 100 of a mode check routine
illustrated in FIG. 10A. In step 102, the state of osmode is
checked. If osmode is not set to OS_OFF, the negative exit is taken
from step 102, other functions are performed in step 103, and the
routine exits in step 104. On the other hand, if osmode is set to
OS_OFF, the positive exit is taken from step 102 and osmode is
reset to a state OS_MAIN in step 106. This causes the rotatable
function menu 50 to be displayed in an initial state that places a
predetermined function representation at the select location 59a.
In the preferred embodiment, the initial display of the rotatable
function 50 in step 106 places the SET UP function representation
in the white facet at location 59a. At the same time a main_mode
flag is set to a value that corresponds to the function
representation currently being displayed at location 59a. Reference
to FIG. 9A shows a mapping between the state of the main_mode flag
and the function representation displayed at the select location
59a. As will be appreciated, the main mode states are numerical and
sequence incrementally in value. In the example given in FIG. 9A,
the main_mode values map to function representations as follows:
0=SET UP; 1=PICTURE; 2=GUIDE; 3=CHANNELS; 4=LOCK; 5=TIMER, AND
6=AUDIO. Returning to FIG. 10A, immediately upon the setting of
osmode to OS_MAIN and display of the rotatable function menu 50 in
step 106, a clock c_onsc is initialized to 60seconds in step 107.
The clock c_onsc counts down from its initial setting until it is
either reset or reaches zero. When c_onsc counts down to zero,
display of the rotatable function menu 50 ceases.
For rotation of the rotatable function menu, assume response to the
channel arrow keys (CH UP indicating depression of the UP arrow,
and CH DOWN, the DOWN arrow). Assume depression of the UP channel
arrow on the remote control 34 in step 109 of FIG. 10B. In step 110
the state of osmode is tested. If osmode is not set to the OS_MAIN
state, the negative exit is taken from step 110 and the channel is
incremented in step 111. The routine ends in step 112. On the other
hand, if osmode is set to OS_MAIN, the positive exit is taken from
step 110. In step 114, the state of osmode is changed to
OS_MAIN_UP1, and the rotatable function menu 50 is rotated as shown
in FIG. 9C. Virtually simultaneously, in steps 115 and 116, c_onsc
is reset to 128 msec and the state of the main_mode flag is
incremented by one. The routine of FIG. 10B ends at 112 either with
the channel incremented or with the rotatable function menu 50
rotated to the position shown in FIG. 9C. Note that when the
rotatable function menu 50 is displayed with osmode set to
OS_MAIN_UP1, only the arrow 68 is included in the display,
indicating to the user that the rotatable function menu 50 is being
rotated in the upward direction.
The operation of the on board processor 30 is controlled by a main
loop program illustrated in FIG. 10D. The main loop program of FIG.
10D is initiated in step 130 when the on board processor 30 is
turned on or booted, initial conditions are set in step 131, and a
loop of routines 132 . . . 135132 is entered. The on screen display
main routine (OSDMAIN) 135 is a component of this loop. The OSDMAIN
routine 135, illustrated in FIG. 10E, is entered in step 140. The
OSDMAIN routine 135 is keyed by the current value of c_onsc, which
is tested in step 142. If c_onsc has not counted down to zero, the
negative exit is taken from step 142 and the count down of the
clock continues in step 143, while the OSDMAIN routine is exited in
step 144. On the other hand, if c_onsc has a value of zero in step
142, the positive exit is taken and the state of osmode is tested
in step 148. If the flag is set to OS_OFF, the rotatable function
menu 50 is not being displayed and the routine ends in step 144. If
the flag is set to OS_MAIN, the OSDMAIN routine in step 149 sets
the flag to OS_OFF, display of the rotatable function menu 50
ceases, and OSDMAIN ends in step 144. If osmode is set to
OS_MAIN_UP1, signifying the first step in an upward rotation of the
rotatable function menu 50, as illustrated in FIG. 9C, the OSDMAIN
routine resets osmode to OS_MAIN_UP2 in step 150, resets c_onsc to
128 msec in step 151, and ends in step 144. If osmode is set to
OS_MAIN_UP2, the OSDMAIN routine changes the state of osmode to
OS_MAIN_UP3 in step 155, resets c_onsc to 400 msec in step 156, and
ends in step 144. The sequence 155, 156, 144 results in upward
rotation of the rotatable function menu 50 to the position
illustrated in FIG. 9E, with the function representation in the
facet at location 59a displayed according to the state of the
main_mode flag. In FIG. 9B, the example shows the main_mode flag
set to 1, resulting in display of the PICTURE function
representation at location 59a. However, since this represents the
end of an upward rotation sequence, only the arrow 68 is displayed.
Now with reference again to FIG. 10E, assuming that the test in
step 148 shows that osmode is in the state OS_MAIN_UP3 (FIG. 9E)
osmode is reset to OS_MAIN is step 158, the arrow 67 is added to
the display, and the clock c_onsc in reset for a 60 second display
of the rotatable function menu in step 159.
The explanation of FIGS. 9A-9F and 10A-10E to this point has
described the initiation of the display of the rotatable function
menu 50 and animation of an upward rotation of the menu by one
facet through the sequence illustrated in FIGS. 9B-9F. As those
skilled in the art will appreciate, downward rotation of the
rotatable function menu 50 is initiated by the routine of FIG. 10C
when the DOWN channel arrow is pushed in step 118 and osmode is
tested in step 119. With no display of the menu 50, the negative
exit is taken from step 119, the channel is decremented in step
120, and the routine ends in step 121. On the other hand, if the
DOWN arrow is pushed while the rotatable function menu 50 is being
displayed, the positive exit is taken from step 119, which results
in setting the osmode flag to OS_MAIN_DOWN1 in step 124, setting
c_onsc to 128 msec in step 125, and decrementing the value of
main_mode in step 126. This initiates a downward rotation sequence
of the rotatable function menu 50 which is illustrated in FIGS.
9G-9K where the location sequence for the white facet is 59a, 59c,
59b, and back to 59a in FIGS. 9J and 9K. During downward rotation,
only the arrow 67 is shown in FIGS. 9A-9J. Once downward rotation
has completed, the arrow 68 is restored to the display in FIG. 9K.
The downward rotation animation sequence is performed by the
OSDMAIN routine 135 by sequencing the value of osmode out of step
148 through the values OS_MAIN_DOWN1 (through steps 161 and 162),
OS_MAIN_DOWN2 (through steps 164 and 165), OS_MAIN_DOWN3 (through
steps 168 and 169), OS_MAIN.
Many modifications and variations of the invention will be evident
to those skilled in the art. It is understood that such variations
may deviate from specific teachings of this description without
departing from the essence of the invention, which is expressed in
the following claims.
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